Character: every cockatoo loves company. When a cockatoo becomes friends with human beings it is not picky: whoever keeps the cockatoo busy is welcome. A cockatoo loves too be touched by humans. Cockatoos are real clowns, they are very active and like to do acrobatic acts. Their imitations are not so good, but cockatoos like to learn and learn fast. That is why they are often seen in bird shows and in circuses: you can teach them about everything.

Family: cockatoos belong to the family of the parrots. Parrots migrate from tree to tree through warm regions in large groups, all screeching and screaming. The largest species live in the tropical rainforest, the smaller ones live in the dry plains with cacti, succulents and here and there some bushes. Over 300 species of parrots are known; some with bright colors, some inconspicuous. Especially Australia is well know for its large 'collection' of parti-colored parrots, but also in Africa, Asia and South America you can find parrots in all sorts and shapes. The parrot is the only bird that can move the upper as well as the lower bill. The curved upper bill - its point always points down - is always much bigger then the lower bill.

Did you know...

* that all cockatoos have climbing feet, with 4 toes from which 2 are pointing to the front and 2 are pointing to the back (see picture)? This is why the feet are fit to clamber over branches and cockatoos can even hang upside down. Cockatoos are great climbers. They often use their bill as 'third foot'. They bite in a branch and if they want to they can hang like this without using their feet. Cockatoos seldom walk on the ground, but if they do they walk like kings, with the little head up, step by step.

* that all cockatoos are eating a great part of the day? They usually eat seeds and fruits, but because of the crenate bill rims they have a good grip on the nutshell and they are able to crack the hardest nuts. Cockatoos are messy eaters and where they visited, you will find the ground full with gnawed leaves an branches. Sometimes they use their foot to grab the food and bring it to their bill, something no other bird will ever do. The cockatoo owes its name to its strong bill; in Malaysia 'kakatua' means pincers.

* that cockatoos are loyal to each other? A male and a female stay together during the whole brood time. To strengthen their bond cockatoos like to fumble and cuddle each other. They polish each others feathers and tickle each others neck. A female cockatoo lays her round, white eggs usually in a hollow tree; after that male and female brood by turns. When the young cockatoos come out of the egg they are bald, blind and helpless. They are fed by mum and dad with pre-digested food from the crop. If the young birds are fully grown they leave the nest. Cockatoos can become old, some cockatoos live up to a 100 years!

* that cockatoos live in groups? When animals live in groups it is important that they do everything together and that is why they need to communicate, they need to keep in touch. Cockatoos do that with a lot of noise and as beautiful as their colors can be, as ugly is their voice. In the morning they tell each other very noisy that they are awake and all together they do their morning clean up. After that they are leaving and go search for food, which goes with a lot of noise. If they find a lake they all drink together and in the evening they are looking for (with again a lot of noise) a place to sleep in a tree. When the cockatoos sleep they are finally quiet :-)